Brake



Novgzs, 1937. R RUFHNO 2,100,174

` BRAKE Filed March 22, 1935 www lllllll IMI' IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 1 INVNTOR. 2f /frff Parr/NO.

' 5 BY WWW-SS" W /l/l n 4 'I @y l ATTORNEYS. 1

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PtentedNafzc, 1931 This invention relates to improvements .in

brakes, and more particularly brake mecha.-

nisms for automobiles.

One of the main objects of the invention resides in a brake mechanism embodying a pair of siidable diametrically opposed -brake shoes adapted to be expanded by wedge means into braking contact with the brake drumv of a wheel, the wedge means being of such construction as to i eifect a positive diametrical expansion of the brake shoes to cause an even pressure Y,throughout the length thereof to obtain maximum braking efiiciency and an even wearrupon the brake lining. X

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive construction of brakes wherein the parts are readily accessi- Figure 1 is a side elevational. view partly in section of my improved brake mechanism.

Figure 2 is a top plan view with parts in horizontal section.

Figure 3 is a vertical 'sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the brake lining um'ts perse.

Referring' to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral I0' designates a portion of the brake drumof an automobile which is adapted to be xedly attached to the wheel -for rotation therewith, while closing the open side of the drum I0 is a at disk-like anchor plate II which is adapted to be iixedly secured to the axle housing of an automobile. The center of the plate I I is provided with an opening I2 for the passage of the axle.

Extending inwardly from the plate II on opposite sides of thevertical axis thereof are sets of upper and lower elongated posts I3, the same being horizontally disposed. The respective sets of posts I3 slidably supportdiametrically opposed brake shoes I4, and in view of the fact that the brake shoes I4 are identical in construction, a description of one will sufce for the other.

Each brake shoe I4 includes an arcuate shaped application Marca 22, 1935; semi No.- 12,315

c claims. (o1. iss-7s) flange I5f from whichl an 4'angular ange or web I textends, the said web extending inwardly from vthe inner edge o f the arcuate flange I5 and is reinforced by transversely disposed ribs l1. -The web I6 is provided with upperJ-and lower elon- 5 gated slots I8, of a length greater than the guide post I3 and which receives the respective posts I3 whereby the brake shoe is slidably supported for movement horizontally to an expanded or retracted position. The web I6 centrally thereof lo is provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined face I9 lof a width slightly less than the width of the arcuate ange I5.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that the two brake shoes III- I4 when slidably 15 supported upon the guide posts I3 are diametrically opposed and'they are normally urged to a retracted position by springs 20, the ends of which respectively Vconnect with the webs I6 of the respective brake shoes. The elongated guide 2 posts I3 serve to limit the sliding movement of the brake shoesboth to retracted and expanded position. f

Fixedv to and extending inwardly from the anchor plate Il are spaced parallelelongated25 guide posts 2I,--2I, the said posts being respectivelyl disposed on opposite sides of the opening d2. Slidable on the posts 2Iris an expwding wedge member 22, the said member 22 being of substantially .yoke or inverted U-shape as shown 30 in Figure 1, the legs 23 of which are provided with vertical elongated slots 24 for receiving the elongated post 2|. The outer sides of the legs 23 are enlarged in thickness and are provided with downwardly 'and inwardly extending wedge sur- 35 faces 25 for respective engagement with the wedge surfaces I9r of the brake shoes. The wedge portions of the legs 23 are provided with an outside ange 26 for engaging the sides of the respective wedge surfaces I9 of the brake shoes. 40

The intermediate or bight portion of the wedge member 22 is provided with awidened head 21, the top of which is flat and is engaged by a cam 28 fixedly secured to the inner end of va shaft 29 journaled in the anchor plate II and which 45 shaft is adapted to be operatively connected with the brake actuating mechanism of an automobile (not shown). The wedge member 22 may be inserted into position by sliding the same over the post 2I and when in the position shown in' 50 Figure 1, cotter pins 30 are inserted transversely through openings provided in the post 2| for retaining the member 22 in position.

Each brake shoe I4 removably supports a brake lining unit 3l, shown per se in Figure 5 of the 55" m'epair or replacement purposes.

drawing. Each brakelining unit si includes ew metal arcuate shaped strip 32, the ends of which are turned inwardly to provide hook portions 33. The intermediate portion of the member 32 is formed with an inwardly extending ear 36 having an opening 35 therein for a purpose to be presently explained. Fixedly secured to thefoutside oi' t/ arcuate shaped member 22 is a layer of lining /material 36. the same being fastened in position by' rivets or like fastening elements 3l. The ends of the lining material 8S terminate adjacent the hook ends 33 of the member til'.

The lining unit 3L is inserted laterally upon 'each of the brake shoes tl, the hook ends 33 en- -comes worn, thel lining unit 3i may be removed bymerely removing the bolt 39 and sliding' the Vunit from the brake shoe, whereupon the worn unit may be replaced by a new one. In the operation of the brake `mechanism hereinbefore described, it will be observed that the springs 20-20 serve to normally hold the brake shoes in a retracted position, whereupon the wedge member y22 is in an up or raised position. In order to expand the brake shoes, the shaft 29 is turned by the brake operating mechanism and the cam 28 forces downwardly upon the head 2l of the member 22, causing thellwedge faces 25 to wedgingly engage the wedge surfaces i9 on the brake shoes. This wedging action imparts outward sliding movement to the brake shoes i4 in opposite directions, thus causing the brake lining material 36 to frictionally engage the brake drum lll: Upon the release, of the brake` actuating \mechanism, the springs 20 slide the brake shoes to a retracted position and force the wedge member 22 upwardly toits normal position.

By reason of the construction and arrangement of the parts. herein shown and described, it willY be appreciated that the mechanism may be readily assembled and that the. parts are accessible for In y, fact, the brakes may be relined by the use of the brake lining units 3| without the aid of a skilled mechanic. Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is.:-

1. Ina brake, a drum, a pair of horizontally op posed shoes slidably mounted relative vto said drum, a vertically slidable yokel shaped wedge member intermediate said shoes, coacting wedge surfaces between the ends of said member and the inner mid portions of the respective shoes. spring means acting upon said shoes tomove the same toward each other to retracted position, and actuating means engageable with the top of said yoke shaped member for sliding said member to ported upon said anchor plate, a yoke shaped wedge member slidably mounted upon said anchor plate for vertical movement and being interposed between said shoes, coacting inclined wedge .alcaide surfaces on the ends of said yoke' shaped wedge member and on the inner4 mid portions of the respective slices,J spring means acting to normally hold said shoes ina retracted position, and actuuating means engageable with the top closed end of said yoke shaped Wedge memberfor imparting a downwardforce upon said yoke shaped i wedge member to cause the coacting wedge l'sunfaces to expand said shoes into braking engage-` ment with said drum against the tension oisaid spring means. v

3. In a brake, a drum, an anchor plate, a pair of opposed brake shoes slidably mounted upon said anchor plate, reversely inclined wedge sur-s faces provided on mid portions of the'respective shoes, a yoke shaped member slidably/mounted on` said anchorkplate intermediate said shoes, and having correspondingly inclined wedge surfaces yon. opposite Vsides thereof in contacting engage ment with the inclined surfaces on the respective shoes, spring means acting upon said shoes to normally hold the same in a retracted position, and actuating means engaging the bight portion of saidv yoke shaped member for sliding said member to wedge said shoes into braking engagement Withsaid drum.

4. In a brake, a drum, an anchor platera, pair/ of horizontally opposed brake shoes having inwardly extending webs, guide posts extending inwardly from said anchor plate and extending through elongated slots in the websof said shoes, inwardly and downwardly inclined surfaces on the inner sides of the webs, a yoke shaped member, intermediate said shoes having vertical slots in the legs thereof, posts extending from said anchor plate and passing thsough said vertical slots, downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces on the outer sides of the legs of saidI member in Wedging engagement with the respective inclined surfaces on the webs of said shoes, spring means acting upon said shoes to normally hold the same in a retracted position, and actuating means engaging thev bight portion of said yoke shaped lmember to impart a downwardsliding' movement thereto against the tension of 'said` spring means to wedgingly move said shoes to expanded` position into engagement with said drum. l.

5. In a brake, a drum, an anchor plate, a pair of horizontally slidable opposed brake shoes having inwardly extending webs, inwardly and downwardly inclined surfaces 'provided on d,the inner mid portions of said webs, a yoke shaped member slidably supported by said anchorplate for vertical sliding movement, said yoke shaped member being disposed l intermediate said shoes, downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces on the outer ,sides of the legs of said yoke shaped member in *contacting wedging engagement with the respective inclined surfaces of the webs of said lshoes, spring means acting upon said shoes to normally hold the same in a retracted position, and actuating means directly engaging the outer tsidey of ,thev bight portion-of said yoke shaped member to impart a downward sliding movement thereto against the tension ofsaid spring means to wedgingly move said shoes to expanded position into engagement with said drum.

6. In a brake, a drum, 'an anchor plate, a pair of horizontally opposed brake shoes slidably supported upon said anchor plate, a yoke shaped wedge member slidably mounted upon said anchor plate for vertical movement and being interposed between said shoes, coacting wedge means between the legs of said yoke shaped member and plate and in bearing contact with said ilat surface, whereby turning of said cam will impart a downward movement to said yoke shaped member to cause the coacting wedge surfaces to expand -said shoes against the tension of said spring means and into braking engagement with said 5 PETER RUFFINO. 

